Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Claims Retaliatory Strike on US-Israeli Ship in Gulf of Oman

On the evening of June 1, local time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a retaliatory military strike against a vessel linked to US and Israeli interests. According to the IRGC statement, the US military had first carried out an “aggressive attack” on an Iranian boat in the Gulf of Oman, prompting the IRGC Navy to launch cruise missiles in response. The missiles struck the Sariska, a ship the IRGC claims is associated with American and Israeli forces. The statement warned that any further US aggression in the region would be met with a resolute and immediate response, but it did not specify the exact time of the operation or the extent of damage to the stricken vessel. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo ship was hit by an unknown projectile while sailing near southern Iraqi waters in the Persian Gulf, causing a violent explosion and unknown damage. The UKMTO did not link this incident to the Iranian action nor identify the origin of the attack. The Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf together form one of the world’s most critical energy shipping corridors, handling nearly one-third of global oil transit. These military incidents add fresh uncertainty to global energy supply chains. The international community is closely monitoring the developing situation, assessing risks to maritime safety and crude oil markets.